China-Japan relations, often known as Sino-Japanese relations, are the name given to the relationship between the two countries. China, especially the eastern and southern provinces, has had a long and profound influence on Japan’s culture, language, architecture, cuisine, ideology, and law throughout the country’s long history. It has been difficult for China and Japan to work together in the past because of Japan’s unwillingness to recognize its wartime crimes to China’s satisfaction. Geopolitical tensions have harmed Sino-Japanese relations since World War II ended. These nations’ hatred stemmed from the Japanese war, colonialism, and East China Sea territorial disputes. China and India, two of the so-called “emerging” nations, have become more prominent in the global economy since the century. As China’s economic clout grows, so does concern over the country’s militarization and lack of accountability in its armed forces.[1]. Non-state performers, such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations, which generate revenues comparable to states, are becoming increasingly important in the international community as globalization advances (Leurtet 2022, pp.225). At the same time, worrying developments such as the regional spread of various forms of terrorism are occurring. As far as total national power goes, China continues to be the world’s dominant country, possessing not just military and economic might are reflected in a variety of movements, including the fall of solid leadership and the rise of multipolarity, diplomatic ties, effects on globalization, as well as rising complexity and efforts to alter the status quo by force, the introduction of Abe administration, and challenges in balancing arrogance.
Even though China and Japan are only divided by a narrow strip of the ocean, diplomatic ties between the two countries have always been tumultuous. Also, there was an era of prosperity. Over the years, it’s worked to preserve a state of competitiveness while also encouraging collaboration. Sino-Japanese ties have been plagued by long-standing tensions stemming from Japan’s history of aggression and territorial sovereignty issues, not to mention the two nations’ divergent perceptions of history. As former Japanese Prime Minister Abe came to office and refused to accept his faults on historical topics like World War II, he forcefully incorporated the “Legislation for Peace and Security” into the country’s constitution (Burcu 2022, pp.22). To “purge” its past of aggression, Japan’s administration has even visited Yasukuni Shrine and the East China Sea. Specific topics like oil and gas in military prostitutes have stabbed the Chinese people’s sentiments on several occasions. Sino-Japanese ties have been at a standstill and deteriorating for years because of Japan’s profound fear and scepticism about China’s recent growth and its misjudgment of the future development of the two nations.
A serious concern to the whole world community, including Japan, is spreading and enhancing arms of mass demolition and ballistic missiles. Because of these and other adverse effects of globalization, transnational terrorist groups’ ability to obtain and deploy weapons of mass destruction is still a significant source of worry for the international community. Limitation of armaments of mass devastation is thus critical, as is strengthening nuclear security to thwart the rise of nuclear terrorism.[2]. It led to the Advancement of communication technologies, such as social networking services (SNSs). They aid international terrorist groups in spreading ideology and the growth of the scope of their actions (Burcu 2022, pp.20). As a result of recent breakthroughs in science and technology, the human species now have access to new activity areas, such as cyberspace and outer space. Although new dangers and hazards have emerged, appropriate laws have not yet been created, resulting in many new options.
Nevertheless, to the benefit of Japan and the rest of the international community, it should embrace China’s benign growth. Although recent military advancements in China have raised concerns in the area and the international community, this is not the only issue. For example, there is a lack of openness in China’s military spending, which helps build its military capabilities. On the other hand, China is increasing its military finances and capabilities in secret. For example, in East and South China, China maintains its unilateral efforts to alter the status quo by force or coercion based on statements that conflict with the established order of international law of the sea. Chinese military boats and planes have been engaged in an outbreak of movement in the East China Sea.[3]. China’s government-owned warships continue to interrupt Japan’s territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands (Satrio et al. 2022, pp.670). China’s development of marine resources has also continued in the absence of a clear delineation of China’s EEZ and continental shelf. Furthermore, China has conducted several surveys in Japan’s territorial seas, including the East China Sea, without Japan’s authorization or surveys that vary from those agreed.
Since 1989, China’s military spending has grown at an annual pace of around double digits. In addition, the China Coast Guard and other maritime law enforcement organizations, which are not directly under the control of the PLA, have seen improvements in their organizational structure and equipment (PLA). Concerning the China Seas, China has been stepping up its efforts to individually alter the current position quo in these areas based on its claims that conflict with international law. The Philippines initiated arbitration procedures in line with the UN Agreement on the Sea Act concerning the Sino-Philippine maritime border dispute (UNCLOS). The Arbitral Tribunal ruled that it had jurisdiction over sure of the Philippines’ comments on the question of jurisdiction (Leurtet 2022, pp.222). The merits hearing took place in November.
On the other hand, China has refused to participate in the arbitration process. Because Japan relies on maritime transportation for most of its resources and energy, the country places a high value on the liberty of steering and overflight in the South Sea, as fine as the safety of shipping routes there. The international community must work together to preserve an open, accessible, and tranquil sea.
Consequently, The US Indo-Pacific plan for military containment of China relies heavily on collaboration and security alliance between the US and Japan. It is a significant issue in Japan. Besides arming nations that challenge China’s territorial sovereignty (Vietnam, India, and the Philippines), the United States also deploys sophisticated warships to participate in the U.S.-led initiative military activities, which sparked fresh tensions between China and Japan.[4]. Another issue is that Japan’s post-war generations have been greatly deceived by American ideology and Cold War thinking, which has led to a negative view of China based on so-called “universal principles” held by the West (Burcu 2022, pp.25). To some degree, the public’s perception of Sino-Japanese ties has been affected by this. However, despite the unusual “Abenomics” that was formed, Japan’s economy was happy for a time. Still, it could not solve fundamental faults such as the ageing population, the relocation of manufacturing sectors, and the shortage of resources and human resources. Japan’s economy remains sluggish.
However, balancing arrogance with the truth is a challenge. China’s economy has grown significantly, becoming the second-largest in the world. As Trump’s “America First” agenda has shown to be unreliable, Japan is in desperate need of a strong market and trade partner to aid in the revitalization of the economy and the resolution of internal structural problems. At the same time, China wants a stable environment to compete with the United States and expects to employ innovative electronic components from Japan under complete competition. The use of new materials and high-tech areas is essential to bring about industrial transformation and upgrade and combat economic downturn pressure. To satisfy such “strict expectations,” China and Japan’s leaders eventually broke the ice (APEC) ‘Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation through the 22nd Informal Leadership Meeting in 2014, which laid the groundwork for Sino-Japanese ties to recover. At the G20 Osaka Summit in June 2019, both nations’ leaders met and agreed on a ten-point action plan, strengthening their confidence. Since this year, Sino-Japanese ties have been bolstered by RCEP signing and high-level visits, following the mutual need for cooperation in battling the pandemic and rebuilding the economy as quickly as feasible (Yu and Kim 2019, pp 345). “Japan Economic Blue Book”, issued in September of this year, reveals that Japan has been China’s second-biggest trade partner for four straight years. After twelve years, China became Japan’s largest trading partner in 2019 (2019). For the third month in a row, Japanese exports to China have increased, making China the most significant and indispensable source of foreign demand for Japan.
However, there has been a movement in the centre of the global economy from the Atlantic to the Pacific since this century, with China and India among those cited as examples. Even though developing nations have taken centre stage in economic growth, the global power structure is shifting. There is also a growing impact of non-state entities such as international terrorist groups. Cases in which foreign countries interfere in democracies through information manipulation and other means and examples of states using military means themselves through methods that are difficult to identify definitively as “armed attack” can potentially alter future security in unpredictable ways at the same time.[5]. Politicians in both China and Japan often claim that their nations have a particular bond that dates back to the seventh century and is based on more than just geography. The roots of Japan’s written language, religion, art, and ethics are heavily influenced by Chinese culture (Yu and Kim 2019, pp.350). When China’s leaders discuss political issues with Japan and Taiwan, China’s ‘gravest wound’ is always at the top. As stipulated in a joint declaration issued by the governments of China and Japan and other agreements, Japan and Taiwan are only allowed to retain non-governmental and local ties. Since Japan ruled Taiwan from 1895 to 1945, China’s distrust of Japan’s connections with Taiwan is understandable. Although Beijing has been more critical of Tokyo’s dealings with Taipei since 1985, the two countries’ relationship has remained stable.
Additionally, the Abe administration is committed to promoting liberal ideals, including democracy and human rights, in a period of frequent changes in power. It hopes to protect the liberal international order headed by the United States against the development of China. Furthermore, the Abe government has promoted these liberal principles and has made remarks referencing a rules-based system. Abe’s government has no plan, despite its liberal beliefs, to fight China. Because of his nationalism and historical revisionism, Abe places high importance on liberal ideals, suggesting that the government uses liberal standards to thwart China’s rise. These interpretations of Abe’s liberal internationalist credentials, whatever their differences in viewpoint, have in common the belief that Japan’s focus on liberal norms conflicts with those of China. Although Japan continues to seek common ground with China and other authoritarian governments, the Japanese government continues to look for common ground (Leurtet 2022, pp.220). Throughout these discussions, Japan strives to preserve the status quo established by US liberal hegemony in international relations. On the other hand, Japan has seldom been swayed by other governments’ internal regimes or humanitarian situations in its policy toward such countries to promote democracy or human rights. To put it another way, Japan’s military buildup and the Japan-US alliance support Japan’s engagement with China to make China’s policies more acceptable to Japan.
Lastly, despite the outbreak, Sino-Japanese ties are nevertheless moving forward rapidly. Both nations have strengthened their ties after working together to battle the Ebola pandemic, which has also helped the two countries’ ties develop. Sino-Japanese Ties Public Opinion Survey” findings issued by the 16th Beijing-Tokyo Forum jointly undertaken by the China Foreign Languages Bureau and the Japanese NPO in November 2020 suggest that Chinese respondents place more significance on Sino-Japanese bilateral relations.[6]. 7.7 percentage points have been added to the 74.7 per cent of Chinese respondents who view Sino-Japanese ties as “important” or “very essential” in 2020 (Gustafsson 2020, pp.1050). As an “important neighbouring nation,” “important economic partner,” and “deep historical and cultural link” between the two countries, Chinese respondents respect their relationship with Japan. According to the study results, Chinese citizens believe that in the “post-epidemic age,” China and the United States have increased their collaboration in response to global concerns. 75.2 per cent of Chinese respondents say that China and Japan should continue to forge new cooperative connections in the future to stabilize the global economy and maintain peace in East Asia[7]. People in China and Japan are pleased with the improvement in their ties, and this is good news for both nations’ long-term economic and trade interests.
In summary, China’s military and economic strength are mirrored in a wide range of events, including the decline of solid leadership and the growth of multipolarity, diplomatic connections; the consequences of globalization; and increased complexity and attempts to change the status quo by force. Relations between China and Japan have always been stormy, even though a thin stretch of water separates the two nations. The US Indo-Pacific strategy for China containment depends significantly on US-Japanese cooperation and security partnership. It’s challenging to strike a delicate balance between arrogance and honesty. As the world’s second-largest economy, China has seen tremendous growth. When there are frequent changes in power, the Abe administration is devoted to liberal ideas like democracy and human rights.
